Oscar-nominated Walk the Line star Joaquin Phoenix announces that he's retiring from acting to launch a hip-hop career as his brother-in-law Casey Affleck captures the curious transition on camera in the film some are labeling an… MoreOscar-nominated Walk the Line star Joaquin Phoenix announces that he's retiring from acting to launch a hip-hop career as his brother-in-law Casey Affleck captures the curious transition on camera in the film some are labeling an elaborate Andy Kaufman-style prank. In the fall of 2008, Phoenix shocked his fans with the announcement that he would no longer be appearing in features, but instead trying his hand in the music business. In the wake of a particularly bizarre appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, everyone began to wonder if the eccentric actor had finally fallen off the deep end. In this film, Affleck follows Phoenix as he attempts to convince Sean "Diddy" Combs to produce his debut album, and responds to a request by Ben Stiller to appear in director Noah Baumbach's Greenberg with casual indifference. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Cast

Consensus:
As unkempt and inscrutable as Joaquin Phoenix himself, I'm Still Here raises some interesting questions about its subject, as well as the nature of celebrity, but it fails to answer many of them convincingly.

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

No doubt what we witness is a performance for the camera, but with what motivation? Or is the hoax a hoax?

A prank void of any substance, I'm Still Here manages to be nothing more than a Borat imitation with flawed artistic pretenses.

Melvin White

Joaquin Phoenix: Did someone just human shit on me?
I think everyone is over thinking I'm Still Here. It's a mocumentary and a damn good one at… MoreJoaquin Phoenix: Did someone just human shit on me?
I think everyone is over thinking I'm Still Here. It's a mocumentary and a damn good one at that. Phoenix wasn't just acting in a movie, but acting in front of the whole world. The David Letterman interview is absolutely hilarious and Phoenix makes it so believable. You have to give Letterman some credit for going with it though. I can't believe he was able to make it through that interview.
I'm Still Here is hoax documentary about Joaquin Phoenix quitting acting and trying to pursue a rap career. Phoenix's performance is off the charts. He kills his performance and really sells the hoax that all this stuff is really going on. He embarrassed himself in front of the whole world just to make this mocumentary. How awesome is that? He faked having a complete mental breakdown. I think it's absolutely brilliant.
Besides the Letterman part of the movie; the next best scene is when he gets into a verbal argument with an audience member at his show. It is simply hysterical. It really is kind of irritating how bad the response has been to this film. It's a mocumentary, but a believable one. It's awkward. It's funny. I guess Casey Affleck almost went broke trying to make this movie and had to actually stop filming it in order to be in The Killer Inside Me, so he could finish the film.
Just go into it knowing it's a mocumentary and view it as a work of fiction. It's incredibly funny if viewed that way.

Steven Carrier

Casey Affleck's "I'm Still Here" is a bit to mean for it's own good. While I think it's deconstruction of celebrity is interesting… MoreCasey Affleck's "I'm Still Here" is a bit to mean for it's own good. While I think it's deconstruction of celebrity is interesting and relevant, and Joaquin Phoenix's performance is committed, revolutionary and unforgettable, the film never seems to play fair. It's hard to get your footing when a film is constantly tricking you like this one does. They tell you it's a documentary but it's completely scripted (though the term 'induced documentary' might actually be more fitting). "I'm Still Here" is wily, nasty and often very funny but it's almost begging you not to take it seriously.

Curtis Lilly

A bit overlong and ugly, but it's still interesting how dedicated he must have been to make this movie.

WARNING - SPOILER ALERT!
This one is sort of a review of 2 halves for me. The Documentary reveals a whole different Joaquin to the one we see in films as the… MoreWARNING - SPOILER ALERT!
This one is sort of a review of 2 halves for me. The Documentary reveals a whole different Joaquin to the one we see in films as the Actor, it's clear from the film that Phoenix's explosions and tantrums are similar to a young child's outbursts, he is ironically egotistical for a man who feels he affects people in a positive way, hugely controlling and very much a Diva with a small entourage pandering his every need.
He then faces a world where he just wants to dive in at the deep end. It's arrogant and very cringeworthy at times and shows Phoenix in a totally repulsive state.
There were hints throughout the film as to it's authenticity and whilst Brother-in-law Casey Affleck Directed the film, this could very much have been watching Joaquin commit Career suicide.
...and so it is revealed this is a Mockumentary! Toward the end you are almost hoping that it is and of course turns everything in my review around and of course, Phoenix and others acted their roles very realistically, it was a great stunt and it was pulled off well!

Anthony Lawrie

I'm sure that when Phoenix and Affleck came up with this idea, maybe during a family dinner or something?, that it sounded like a really good idea. I… MoreI'm sure that when Phoenix and Affleck came up with this idea, maybe during a family dinner or something?, that it sounded like a really good idea. I suppose I would agree, it is an interesting experiment on paper, just not in reality. Hats off to them for keeping this up for two years, that takes commitment, the only problem seems to have been that they ran out of steam after a few months and the message got lost. I would argue that Phoenix's performance is outstanding though, not many actors can do 'breakdown' but his was awesome and he risked his career and was publicly ridiculed and that's where this film's strength is in my opinion. The Letterman interview was brutal but it was Letterman who came out worse as far as I'm concerned, I wanted to look away but just couldn't. I think the way he was treated was appalling, but unfortunately unsurprising in this day and age, I think they were both a little naive to think that this would be revelation. I think a little bit of ego got in the way at times too! It doesn't help that he sings the praises of David Letterman in an interview that comes as an extra on the DVD, adding to the confusion. Two years work without any back up or real explanation? It's messy, confused and not particularly entertaining. It has moments of greatness but overall isn't that great although in 20 years time It will probably be regarded as a work of pure genius, I guess only time will tell. I base my rating on Phoenix's performance, the commitment of everyone involved and the 'future classic' Letterman scene and I'm probably being far too generous. It's a hard fucking film to review!

Drew Smith

Joaquin Phoenix is aware that we probably don't care about what's going on here. So is Casey Affleck. This much is indicated repeatedly through the… MoreJoaquin Phoenix is aware that we probably don't care about what's going on here. So is Casey Affleck. This much is indicated repeatedly through the course of I'm Still Here. If they know we're not going to care, then honestly, why should we? There isn't anything here to get excited about at all - it's a fictional presentation of an overpriviliged white man trolling a bunch of people for a couple of years. Phoenix and Affleck take his antics, some staged and some not, and carve them into a surprisingly basic story of a man's search for personal satisfaction. The only real hook here is the constant blurring of reality and contrivance, done both through the element of performativity (you never know who's in on the joke) and through the way that celebrity in itself shapes perception of a person. In a way, it's sort of clever.
But then...who cares? Yup, returning to that again. It's an ugly movie about an ugly person in pursuit of a goal with predictably ugly results. Let's draw parallels to Exit Through the Gift Shop, which also came out this year and has a very similar fact-or-fiction "documentary" construction. In Exit Through the Gift Shop, you witness the birth and death of an art form, a scathing attack on creation and capitalism, and a stunningly subtle turnabout on its attitude toward the man spearheading all of this. In I'm Still Here, Phoenix is reprehensible all the way through. You don't care if it's an act or a not-act or whatever because it isn't funny and it isn't clever and it produces absolutely nothing worth thinking about or analyzing. On every level, it's self-indulgence, and the worst kind of self-indulgence: the kind that, despite having no appeal to anyone outside the project, is packaged and presented as if it would.
There seems to be a contingency who thinks that Phoenix is a lost, misunderstood, immensely complex figure, and I could get on board with them feeling that way. Perception is subjective - I happen to think now that this person is just a big idiot who released one vanity project that suddenly got him a new type of attention from some sectors. Now his image, the image he rails against in the first three minutes of the movie, has been successfully transformed. Is it a victory for him, or is it just a plot point, if the movie's really a hoax? Again, who cares? He's asking us to develop new thoughts on him based on his own, purportedly self-regulated presentation of himself, and given that invitation I thought he made a movie that sucked. Successful on his terms, definitely not on mine.

Everett Johnson

A few years ago Joaquin Phoenix announced he was retiring from acting to pursue a hip hop career. Was it a hoax, or was it the real deal? Well, Casey Afffleck… MoreA few years ago Joaquin Phoenix announced he was retiring from acting to pursue a hip hop career. Was it a hoax, or was it the real deal? Well, Casey Afffleck filmed the entire thing for this "documentary". I was very intrigued to see this, because I think Phoenix is a terrific actor. After watching this, I must say, I don't give a crap if this whole thing was real or not(never says). This movie is boring, all over the place, and doesn't go anywhere. I really hope it was a hoax, because if not, Phoenix is a messed up dude, but more importantly he's a jerk. He comes off very bad in this, and makes me like him less. If it was all fake, then man he is a great actor, but this is the type of movie that just makes you like the people involved a little less. I know he is coming back to acting, and I'm sure he will still be good, but as far as this movie goes, just skip it. This isn't worth the time or effort to watch a movie.

Kase Vollebregt

The real beauty of the film and what it's trying to accomplish doesn't seem to settle in until there's about 40 minutes left, in which most… MoreThe real beauty of the film and what it's trying to accomplish doesn't seem to settle in until there's about 40 minutes left, in which most audiences will all but already have lost interest and/or respect. 'I'm Still Here' is a remarkable attempt of shredding down a celebrity at his height of fame and deconstructing the man that lies beneath. Phoenix shows extraordinary talent as an actor (if, in fact, he was acting) in a role that is close to revolutionary. The haunting images of Phoenix's stolid face, with a cigarette and sunglasses, both which seem omnipresent throughout the film, serve as a brilliant way to show this man's loss of faith and comprehension in the world he is living in. The glasses seem to hide the real man, the man we don't know. Is it all a hoax? Or is the hoax itself a hoax? I'm Still Here's problem is that it alienates its viewer far too easily with its unanswered questions and inconceivable point.

Gordon A

Interesting experiment in media manipulation where Phoenix passes off an obnoxious deluded stoner wannabee rapper as himself and Affleck films the consequences.… MoreInteresting experiment in media manipulation where Phoenix passes off an obnoxious deluded stoner wannabee rapper as himself and Affleck films the consequences. Scores for commitment but ultimately reveals little we didn't know about vacuous celebrity life and his adopted personnae is so dull and narcissistic it becomes a chore listening to or caring about his ramblings.